Is there a 5-3 shift lockout?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 1
From: Harker Heights, TX
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Is there a 5-3 shift lockout?
It's so hard for me to shift from 5th to 3rd in this car. Is it just me or is there some lockout that tries to prevent you from doing this, and if there is - does the competitive driving turn that lockout off?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 43
From: Scottsdale Az
No there's no 5-3 lockout, my guess is just bad rpm matching. Blip the throttle right before you slide it into 3 and release the clutch. The idea is to get the rpms where they'd be ahead of time.
If the tranny speed and the engine speed vary to much it will seem harder to engage it into gear. There are other factors for why one should heel-toe down shift as well but we won't go into it here.
If the tranny speed and the engine speed vary to much it will seem harder to engage it into gear. There are other factors for why one should heel-toe down shift as well but we won't go into it here.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 1
From: Harker Heights, TX
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
No there's no 5-3 lockout, my guess is just bad rpm matching. Blip the throttle right before you slide it into 3 and release the clutch. The idea is to get the rpms where they'd be ahead of time.
If the tranny speed and the engine speed vary to much it will seem harder to engage it into gear. There are other factors for why one should heel-toe down shift as well but we won't go into it here.
If the tranny speed and the engine speed vary to much it will seem harder to engage it into gear. There are other factors for why one should heel-toe down shift as well but we won't go into it here.
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No, there is no lockout to prevent the shift you talk about. If you can't get it to work like mentioned above, down shift to 4th ahead of time then it's a straight shot to 3rd if you want to go to a lower gear. 
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 1
From: Harker Heights, TX
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
That is pretty much how I do it with no problems. Hammered around a guy this morning on the way in to work doing just that.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: KY
Clutch. Take out of 5th. Blip throttle while still clutched. While revs are still high shift into 3rd and release clutch.
Smooth.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 597
Likes: 9
From: near Newburypot MA
NOTE:
When you pull the shifter out of ANY gear - and set the shifter free (not applying pressure), it ALWAYS lines up for 3rd and 4th (and never 1st or 2nd, or 5th or 6th) so you can easily find 3rd by setting the shifter into neutral and going straight up for 3rd ! However, as the owners manual states - EXCESSIVE RPM's may cause engine damage if your going too fast for the down shift - the rev limiter will not prevent way to high RPM's !!! You got to know your car to prevent the high RPM's -
or your engine will be making a noise like this image:
and your head will then go like this:
and your eyes will go like this when you see what it costs to repair:
and you will later tell the story and say:
and thereafter you'll drive like this:
When you pull the shifter out of ANY gear - and set the shifter free (not applying pressure), it ALWAYS lines up for 3rd and 4th (and never 1st or 2nd, or 5th or 6th) so you can easily find 3rd by setting the shifter into neutral and going straight up for 3rd ! However, as the owners manual states - EXCESSIVE RPM's may cause engine damage if your going too fast for the down shift - the rev limiter will not prevent way to high RPM's !!! You got to know your car to prevent the high RPM's -
or your engine will be making a noise like this image:
and your head will then go like this:
and your eyes will go like this when you see what it costs to repair:
and you will later tell the story and say:
and thereafter you'll drive like this:
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Just a small throttle blip in between the gears while your moving the leaver. A little practice and it'll be second nature whenever you down shift.I've been driving sticks since i was 10 or 12 (grew up on a farm)so it's been 2nd nature to me,so hang in there and they will be for you too!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 761
Likes: 1
From: Glendale, CA
You guys keep mentioning rev matching. Rev matching will make the downshift smoother once he's already in gear and letting out the clutch. Looks like the OP is having issues actually getting into gear. When shifting from 6th to 3rd, I've noticed that, despite the transmission having synchros, a decent amount of force is necessary to get it into gear. Double clutching makes it smooth every time. I'm still not very good at it, and it extends shift time a lot, but its a smooth, easy shift.
So, matth3w, try this: while in 5th or 6th gear at a low rpm, press in the clutch, shift to neutral, let out the clutch, blip the gas, clutch in, shift into 3rd, blip the gas again, and let out the clutch.
So, matth3w, try this: while in 5th or 6th gear at a low rpm, press in the clutch, shift to neutral, let out the clutch, blip the gas, clutch in, shift into 3rd, blip the gas again, and let out the clutch.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
Clutch
Out of fifth
remove hand from shifter (to center)
clutch out
rev
clutch in
into third
clutch out
pedal: meet floor; floor: meet pedal.
In that order. Can be done in 1-2 seconds with practice.
Out of fifth
remove hand from shifter (to center)
clutch out
rev
clutch in
into third
clutch out
pedal: meet floor; floor: meet pedal.
In that order. Can be done in 1-2 seconds with practice.
